Title: |
Land at The Nurseries, Grange Road, Blunham, Bedfordshire: Archaeological Field Evaluation |
Series: |
Albion Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
An archaeological evaluation comprising a review of previously recorded information together with trial excavation was undertaken site at ''The Nurseries'', Blunham, in order to erect glass houses. The geology of the site consists of river silts and gravels overlying Oxford Clay. No previously identified archaeological or historic sites are recorded within the limits of the site. The available information, particularly the cropmark information, was utilised to formulate the trenching strategy. A total of eight trial excavation trenches were opened, revealing considerable spatial variation in the archaeological remains. The eastern part of the site, extending from the centrally located glass house to the eastern site boundary, contained few archaeological deposits, which were dispersed and undated. In contrast a greater number of features were identified in the west, with the most significant remains being identified in the north-western margin of the site. Evidence for two phases of activity comprising pits and ditches was defined. Although undated by artefacts, at least one element of the later phase, interpreted as a cultivation furrow, would appear to be of medieval or later date, if correctly identified. The features were relatively shallow indicating truncation of the upper elements, probably by agriculture. The orientation of the early ditches in this area contrasts with that of the known cropmarks implying that they are not associated. The apparently confined nature of the activity implies clustering, whereas the known cropmarks indicate an extensive area of activity focussed on a main routeway with possible perpendicular off-shoots. The evaluation identified a single cluster of archaeological features in the north-western area of the site. Although undated and truncated, the earlier phase of activity in particular would appear to be significant. |
Author: |
Matt Edgeworth
G Edmondson
D Ingham
J Wells
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Publisher: |
Albion Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Central Bedfordshire HER (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2004
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Locations: |
Site: |
The Nurseries, Blunham |
Parish: |
BLUNHAM |
District: |
Central Bedfordshire |
County: |
Bedfordshire |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 514610, 252400 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
albionar1-21108 |
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Note: |
Comb bound report, cream cover
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
23 Nov 2016 |